Apparatus for preventing splitting of textile fiber laps

ABSTRACT

Faults otherwise possibly occurring during the unwinding of a wound lap of compacted textile fiber web are resisted due to the formation in the web of longitudinally extending zones which vary in density across the width of the compacted web. Such zones are brought into being by passage of the web of textile fibers between spaced, interleaved rotating disc members to divert the web into a plurality of longitudinal corrugations immediately prior to compacting of the web between calender rolls.

, Blalock et a1.

[451 June 26, 1973 1 APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SPLITTING OF TEXTILE FIBER LAPS [75] Inventors: William L. Blalock; Marcus G.

Whitehurst, both of Gastonia, N .C.

[73] Assignee: Piedmont Machine Shop, Inc.,

Gastonia, NC.

[22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 168,597

[52] US. Cl. 19/155 [51] Int. Cl DOlg 25/00 [58] Field of Search 19/155, 161 R; 242/55.l

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,015,834 l/19l2 Potter l9/155 3,313,005 4/1967 Moon 19/161 R X Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney-Warley L. Parrott, Daniel E. McConnell et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Faults otherwise possibly occurring during the unwinding of a wound lap of compacted textile fiber web are resisted due to the formation in the web of longitudinally extending zones which vary in density across the width of the compacted web. Such zones are brought into being by passage of the web of textile fibers between spaced, interleaved rotating disc members to divert the web into a plurality of longitudinal corrugations immediately prior to compacting of the web between calender rolls.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures lglgll APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SPLITTING F TEXTILE FIBER LAPS At certain stages in the processing of fibrous textile materials, it has heretofore been conventional to form textile fibers into a web and wind the web into a package known as a lap. Particularly with synthetic fibers, faults occur on unwinding of a lap such as when the lap splits or when adjacent wraps of compacted textile fiber web in the lap marry by adhering together. Such unwinding faults occur with sufficient frequency, when conventional prior art practices are followed, as to be an impediment to the desired production of textile materials.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the resistance to unwinding faults of a wound lap of compacted textile fiber web. By enhancing the resistance to unwinding faults, the difficulties and deficiencies heretofore encountered in production and handling of such wound laps are diminished and more favorable production efficiencies are obtained. In realizing these objects of the present invention, the web of textile fibers is passed between spaced apart, interleaved rotating disc members, each of which engages the web but not any other disc member. By such'passage of the web, the web is diverted into a plurality of longitudinal corrugations spaced transversely of the web. The corrugated web is then passed immediately between calender rolls to compact the longitudinal corrugations and create density variations across the width of the compacted web. Such density variations provide, in effect, longitudinal zones of strength through the wound lap of compacted textile fiber web and thereby improve the resistance of the web to unwinding faults.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus incorporating the combination of the present invention;

FIG. 2is an enlarged schematic view of portions of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken generally as indicated by the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the schematic showing in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, enlarged to show details of the present invention.

While the discussion which follows will proceed with particular reference to the drawing as briefly described above, illustrating a preferred embodiment for the present invention, it is to be understood at the outset of this detailed disclosure that the drawing and description which follow are set forth as illustrating a preferred embodiment for the present invention and not as illustrating the only embodiment contemplated for this invention. Thus, the description is to be read as a broad teaching of the usefulness contemplated for this invention.

In FIG. 1, the present invention is particularly illustrated'with reference to use in a textile picker apparatus generally indicated at 10. As is known to persons skilled in the textile arts, the picker is one ofa class 'of textile fiber processing machines having means for delivering a web W of textile fibers along a predetermined path, a stand of calender rolls 11, 12, 13, 14 for receiving and compacting a delivered web W and means for winding the compacted web into a lap L. In the illustrated picker 10, the means for winding the compacted web into a lap L includes support rolls 17, 18 for the lap being formed and a lap pin 19. While these elements are included in the textile picker apparatus 10, it is known that similar components may be incorporated into other textile fiber processing machines of this general class.

In accordance with the present invention, first and second shafts 20, 21 are mounted adjacent the calender rolls 11, 12 to extend transversely of the picker l0 and span the width of the web W delivered to the calender rolls 11, 12. The first shaft 20 is positioned above the path of the web, while the second shaft 21 is positioned below the path of the web (FIGS. 2 and 4). The shafts are supported for rotation by being mounted in corresponding bearing means 22, 23 (for the-first shaft 20) and 24, 25 (for the second shaft 21). The bearing means 22, 23, 24, 25 are mounted on the side frame members 28, 29 of the picker 10.

The first and second shafts 20, 21 are driven in rotation through the provision of a drive train which interconnects the shafts one with another and with other driven elements of the picker 10. In particular, the first shaft 20 has mounted thereon a driven gear 30 while the second shaft 21 has mounted thereon an intermediate gear 31 meshing with the driven gear 30. The intermediate gear 31 also meshes with a drive gear 32 mounted on an intermediate shaft 34. The intermediate shaft 34 is driven in rotation by suitable interconnection with other elements of the picker 10, such as by a chain connection to a driven calender roll 13. With the intermediate shaft 34 being driven in rotation, rotational motion is transmitted through the gears 32, 31, 30 to rotate the first and second shafts 20, 21 at a common rotational speed.

In accordance with important features of the present invention, first and second sets of disc members 35, 36 are mounted on corresponding ones of the first and second shafts 20, 21 for rotation therewith. Each of the sets of disc members 35', 36 includes a plurality of the disc members spaced along the corresponding shaft widthwise of the web. The sets of disc members are so mounted that the disc members 35 rotating with the first shaft 20 are spaced intermediate and interleaved with the disc members 36 rotating with the second shaft 21. Each disc member 35, 36 rotates without coming into engagement with any other disc member or with the other of the first and second shafts.

Due to the particular relationship between the first and second sets of disc members 35, 36 and the driving in rotation of those discs, the web W of textile fibers passed therebetween is diverted into a plurality of Iongitudinal corrugations spaced transversely of the web (FIGS. 4 and 5). By thus diverting the web W, longitudinally extending zones are formed in which the web extends generally horizontally, as across a circumferential edge of one of the disc members, or extends at a more nearly vertical angle, as between adjacent circumferential edges. Such diversion of the web into hills and valleys is of significance in the present invention as making possible the achievement of the objects of this invention. Further, the particularly smooth contour or patternof longitudinal corrugations thus formed contributes to a desired uniformity of result in that no excessively thickened or excessively thined areas are formed in the lap L produced in accordance with the present invention.

Immediately following passage of the web between the spaced, interleaved, rotating disc members 35, 36, the corrugated web is passed between the calender rolls 11, 12, 13, 14 while thereby compacting the longitudinal corrugations to create density variations across the width of the compacted web. In particular, the immediate compaction of the corrugated web results in that portion of the web disposed in a more nearly vertical angle, as between adjacent circumferential edge portions of disc members, being vertically compressed to more closely pack the fibers of the web. By way of contrast, the portions of the web extending generally horizontally across the circumferential edge of the disc member is less closely packed. Using the hill and valley analogy briefly expressed above, the peaks and valleys become longitudinally extending zones ofa first density in the compacted textile fiber web while the side hills become longitudinally extending zones of greater density. The longitudinally extending zones of greater density impart to the wound lap L of compacted textile fiber web a strength which enhances resistance of the wound web to unwinding faults.

In accordance with the present invention, the passing of the web between the disc members 35, 36 while diverting the web into corrugations includes drafting at least certain corrugated web portions longitudinally of the web. In the embodiment illustrated, such drafting of at leastcertain corrugated web portions is accomplished by engaging the certain corrugated web portions with disc members which have a linear surface speed higher than the linear surface speed of others of the disc members. In particular, the first set of disc members 35 have a larger diameter than the second set of disc members 36. Due to thisdifference in diameters, while the first and second shafts 20, 21 aredriven at a common rotational speed, the linear surface speed of the first set of disc members 35 is higher than that of the second set of disc members 36. Thus, as to any three adjacent disc members, two are moving at a linear surface speed different than the third. Such differential in linear surface speeds imparts a certain draft to the corrugated web portion extending between such disc members, tending to slightly parallelize the fibers of the web.

In accordance with the present invention, such diverting and drafting of the web further includes grippingly engaging a portion to the web by the provision of serrated edge portions for the disc members 35, 36 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Preferably, the circumferential edges of the disc members are given a toothed configuration, to assure proper gripping engagement with engaged portions of the web.

In orderto limitany possible transverse expansion of the web W otherwise possibly occurring with passage thereof between the disc members 35, 36, the present invention further comprises edge guide means in the form of template members 38, 39 disposed adjacent the predetermined path of web travel intermediate the disc members 35, 36 and the calender rolls ll, 12. Should the web W tend to expand transversely due to the operation of the disc members 35, 36 thereon, the side edge portions of the web come into contact with edge guide means 38, 39 and are thereby prevented from expansion beyond the desired-operating width for the calender rolls ll, 12.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a textile fiber processing machine having means for delivering a web of textile fibers along a predetermined path, a stand of calendar rolls for receiving and compacting a delivered web, and means for winding the compacted web into a lap, the combination therewith of means for imparting to the compacted web longitudinal zones of strength so as to improve resistance of the lap to splitting and comprising:

a first shaft extending adjacent said calender rolls and spanning the width of the web delivered thereto,

a second shaft extending parallel to said first shaft at a predetermined distance therefrom and spanning the width of the web,

one of said shafts being on one side of said path of said web and the other thereof being on the opposite side of said path of said web,

drive means operatively connected with said shafts for driving said shafts in rotation and operatively interconnecting said shafts for coordinating the rotational speeds thereof,

a first set of a plurality of disc members mounted on said first shaft for rotation therewith, each of said first disc members having a circumferential edge of predetermined dimension axially of said first shaft and a radius less than the predetermined distance between said shafts, said first disc members having said circumferential edges thereof spaced evenly one from another axially along said first shaft at a distance at least several times said predetermined edge dimension, and

a second set of a plurality of disc members mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, each of said second disc members having a circumferential edge of predetermined dimension axially of said second shaft and a radius less than the predetermined distance between said shafts, said second disc members having said circumferential edges thereof spaced evenly one from another axially along said second shaft at a distance at least several times said predetermined edge dimension,

said first and second disc members having substantially similar edge dimensions and being arranged with said circumferential edges of said second disc members spaced intermediate pairs of adjacent circumferential edges of said first disc members and separated therefrom by a distance at least about the same as said edge dimension,

said disc members cooperating for engaging one surface of the web passing between the shafts at transversely spaced apart zone's'by the circumferential edges'of one of the sets of disc members and the opposite surface of the web at transversely spaced apart zones by the circumferential edges of the other set of disc members, the one surface zones being spaced transversely of the web from the opposite surface zones, and for thereby diverting the web into longitudinal corrugations which are compacted by the calender rolls to create density variations across the width of the compacted web and enhance the resistance thereof to unwinding faults during subsequent use of the lap.

6 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein second set of disc members for thereby reorienting at Said Shaf t5 Said drive means and l disc membfirs 9 least some fibers of the web relative to other fibers operate in imparting to web engaging surfaces of said first set of disc members a linear surface speed different thereof" from that imparted to web engaging surfaces of said 5 

1. In a textile fiber processing machine having means for delivering a web of textile fibers along a predetermined path, a stand of calendar rolls for receiving and compacting a delivered web, and means for winding the compacted web into a lap, the combination therewith of means for imparting to the compacted web longitudinal zones of strength so as to improve resistance of the lap to splitting and comprising: a first shaft extending adjacent said calender rolls and spannIng the width of the web delivered thereto, a second shaft extending parallel to said first shaft at a predetermined distance therefrom and spanning the width of the web, one of said shafts being on one side of said path of said web and the other thereof being on the opposite side of said path of said web, drive means operatively connected with said shafts for driving said shafts in rotation and operatively interconnecting said shafts for coordinating the rotational speeds thereof, a first set of a plurality of disc members mounted on said first shaft for rotation therewith, each of said first disc members having a circumferential edge of predetermined dimension axially of said first shaft and a radius less than the predetermined distance between said shafts, said first disc members having said circumferential edges thereof spaced evenly one from another axially along said first shaft at a distance at least several times said predetermined edge dimension, and a second set of a plurality of disc members mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, each of said second disc members having a circumferential edge of predetermined dimension axially of said second shaft and a radius less than the predetermined distance between said shafts, said second disc members having said circumferential edges thereof spaced evenly one from another axially along said second shaft at a distance at least several times said predetermined edge dimension, said first and second disc members having substantially similar edge dimensions and being arranged with said circumferential edges of said second disc members spaced intermediate pairs of adjacent circumferential edges of said first disc members and separated therefrom by a distance at least about the same as said edge dimension, said disc members cooperating for engaging one surface of the web passing between the shafts at transversely spaced apart zones by the circumferential edges of one of the sets of disc members and the opposite surface of the web at transversely spaced apart zones by the circumferential edges of the other set of disc members, the one surface zones being spaced transversely of the web from the opposite surface zones, and for thereby diverting the web into longitudinal corrugations which are compacted by the calender rolls to create density variations across the width of the compacted web and enhance the resistance thereof to unwinding faults during subsequent use of the lap.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said shafts, said drive means and said disc members cooperate in imparting to web engaging surfaces of said first set of disc members a linear surface speed different from that imparted to web engaging surfaces of said second set of disc members for thereby reorienting at least some fibers of the web relative to other fibers thereof. 